polymorphic eruption of pregnancy/ pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy; atopic eruption (eczema) of pregnancy; intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (icp)

Common Skin Rashes in Pregnancy - Symptoms

POLYMORPHIC ERUPTION OF PREGNANCY (PEP) / PRURITIC URTICARIAL PAPULES AND PLAQUES OF PREGNANCY (PUPPP)

Patients present with itchy, red rashes that usually start from the stretch marks on the abdomen, which can then spread over the trunk, thighs and arms. It may also appear as raised lumps/ patches of different shapes and sizes.

Rarely, blisters may develop in severe cases. If blistering is severe, a skin biopsy may be required to rule out another more serious blistering condition that can occur in pregnancy (pemphigoid gestationis).

PUPPP is not known to harm mother or baby and it usually resolves within one to two months after delivery. It rarely recurs in subsequent pregnancies.

ATOPIC ERUPTION (ECZEMA) OF PREGNANCY:

Patients present with red, inflamed and scaly patches with scratch marks (excoriations). It may become weepy and oozy if there is secondary infection.

The common sites involved are the abdomen, folds over the limbs, neck and face.

If inadequately untreated, the skin can become thickened with prominent creases (lichen simplex chronicus) and larger lumps (prurigo nodules).

The condition is not known to affect the health of the baby. Some patient’s condition may improve after delivery; while some may go on to have chronic eczema.

INTRAHEPATIC CHOLESTASIS OF PREGNANCY (ICP):

The main symptom of ICP is itching, usually without a rash. The itching is often more noticeable on the hands and feet but can be all over the body. It is usually worse at night.

Symptoms of ICP typically start from around 30 weeks of pregnancy, but it's possible to develop the condition as early as 8 weeks.